Free Nik filters and external editors in ASP

[Franz Dur]

Since Google has made the Nik filter suite available for free I use them often.

One that is really handy is Graduated Neutral Density a nice and very capable replacement for Gradfilter Pro.

The only problem I have is that the different filters are grouped, so if you enter as external editor Color efex pro 4 you do't have Viveza 2 immediately available.

Is there a way to populate the drop down list of external editors? Seems it can contain only one editor. Or than I miss the trick.

[richard605]

Did you ever get a drop down menu? I would like the whole Google Nik suite available as well ...

[Dutchmm]

Since Google has made the Nik filter suite available for free I use them often.

...

The only problem I have is that the different filters are grouped, so if you enter as external editor Color efex pro 4 you do't have Viveza 2 immediately available.

Is there a way to populate the drop down list of external editors? Seems it can contain only one editor. Or than I miss the trick.

The only way I can see of doing this is to define one output queue for each editor program you want to use. If you have read AFX's book (on ASP2, but there's really no significant difference on ASP3), you will know you can define a job to be run for each picture you send to a particular queue. As long as the output type at the end of your (say) Viveza queue is compatible with the input type of your (say) Graduated Neutral Density filter, you have a workable, though admittedly clunky solution.

Unless you want to write a stub program to present the Nik menu, and configure that as your external editor.

[Franz Dur]

Did you ever get a drop down menu? I would like the whole Google Nik suite available as well ...

No. In the settings for the External Editor I added color efex, analog efex, etc but to switch from one to the other I have to go through Prefs/Extenal Ed. Too bad, it would be so simple to have the toolbar icon open a drop down...

I tried to use the batch mechanism to redirect the nik filter tiff to a specific folder instead of having it dropped into my raw folder, but no success.

It is a pity that Corel does not facilitate the use of external programs, especially since it is so slow to develop the program. The Nik filters are excellent, the U-points are great it was a great asset for Nikon's Capture. Corel could do the same at no cost.

Francis

[richard605]

Great point - the Nik filters are fabulous as are the control points! What a concept - adding that great technology at no cost whatsoever. Maybe in the next version ...!